Body recovered from Walsall Arboretum lake

Emergency services were called to the park at around 7.30pm yesterday after a passer-by spotted a person in difficulty.

Two police officers attempted to rescue the man but he went under the water. Search teams used three boats and torches last night to try to find the man and the operation had continued today. Police confirmed the body had been recovered at around 4.30pm.

The man's death is currently being treated as unexplained.

The arboretum was set to remain closed for the rest of today and is due to re-open as normal tomorrow.

Police have been searching for the body of a man in the lake

Police today confirmed they were also looking into a crash which happened close to the arboretum in Buchanan Avenue around 6.15pm last night. A car drove into a garden and the driver left the scene. Police spokeswoman Gina Lycett said officers were investigating if there was any link with the lake incident.

Inspector Colin Mattinson, from Walsall Police, said: “We have been making inquiries in the local area overnight in an attempt to identify the man seen in difficulty, and to determine how he came to be in the water.

“We continue to appeal for information from people. The search had to be stopped overnight but we are resuming inquiries.”

Catherine Hickman, spokeswoman for West Midlands Police, said an investigation had been launched to find out how the man had come to be in the water.

An appeal has been launched for anyone with information to call police on 101.